A new chapter for craft beer: Engkanto opens new taproom in Mandaluyong

Editor’s note: This content is sponsored by AboitizPower and was handled by BrandRap, the sales and marketing arm of Rappler. No member of the news and editorial team participated in the publishing of this piece.

There was a time when having beer in Manila required little to no thought.

Beer was simply beer — a dependable companion to celebrations or the deep exhale after a long day.

But cities evolve, and so do the rituals that unfold within them.

In recent years, Manila’s drinking culture has begun to take on new textures. Conversations that once happened over familiar tastes now wander into new territories — hazy ales, citrus notes, tropical brews — just flavors with a little bit more imagination behind them. And somewhere in that shift, Engkanto Brewery has been steadily owning its space.

Inspired by the idea that Filipino craft beer could be as imaginative as it is approachable, Engkanto has built a reputation for brewing beers that feel both adventurous and distinctly local. Its creations play with flavors drawn from ingredients Filipinos take pride in. You could probably say each one feels like art in a bottle.

It wasn’t that long ago when Engkanto’s High Hive Honey Ale won the prestigious World’s Best Flavoured Honey & Maple Beer title at the 2024 World Beer Awards. This win marked a milestone for the Philippines, as it was the first time a local craft beer claimed the top honor.

And for a brand that puts thought into every brew, the process matters just as much as the product. Somewhere beyond the tap — in its brewery in Carmona, Cavite — Engkanto has been shaping how its beers are made. Since 2024, part of its operations has been powered by solar energy through a partnership with AboitizPower, including a 97.09-kilowatt-peak system installed at the facility.

“Engkanto Brewery has had sustainability embedded in its culture since its founding,” said its founder, Ian Paradies. “From heavily pushing kegs with our customers, which produces much less waste, to investing in a high-quality wastewater treatment facility and propagating our own yeast, we are constantly finding ways to impact the environment more positively. Partnering with AboitizPower helped us further realize this goal by working together to install a rooftop solar power system, allowing us to reduce our electrical consumption. Both companies share the same values, with AboitizPower being a renewable energy leader within the Philippines.”

It doesn’t show up in the glass, but it changes something else entirely — knowing that somewhere in its making, your beer is powered by the sun.

Recently, Engkanto has also introduced a non-alcoholic option, opening the experience to those who want the flavor and craft, without the buzz.

But craft beer culture isn’t built by beer alone. It grows in the spaces where people gather around it. That idea comes closer with the opening of Engkanto’s new taproom.

Enter Engkanto Taps in NBS Park, Mandaluyong

NBS Park has quietly been becoming one of those urban pockets where people drift after hours. Tucked along Pioneer Street, the space feels less like a traditional bar and more like a low-key neighborhood find. Craft beer, after all, thrives on discovery.

Engkanto has spent nearly two years building its own branded brick-and-mortar stores, on top of its other distribution channels. The idea was for the brand to be able to control the experience it provides, while also offering locations where people could enjoy its beers at attractive price points. “We currently have four Engkanto Taps outlets, with NBS being our newest location. This is a new channel for us, and it has been exciting as we get immediate feedback on our products from our guests. We believe NBS Park is a perfect location for Engkanto Taps, as it is a space that fuses art and F&B. In many ways, developing craft beers is an art in itself — and all the tenants within NBS Park complement each other and work closely together to provide different experiences for our customers,” said Paradies.

For Engkanto, the opening of the new taproom indicates more than just expansion. It reflects how the brand is continuing to grow alongside the community forming around craft beer, one that’s becoming more open to exploring new tastes.

Where conversations begin

It has only been a few months since Engkanto Taps in Mandaluyong opened, yet it has already begun hosting events that bring different groups together.

One evening saw the space filled with energy professionals and students for #WattDoYouKnow, a quiz night hosted by Rappler together with AboitizPower. Teams rounded up for a game night centered on electricity fundamentals, current updates from the energy sector, and some occasional pop culture references. But like many gatherings built around games and drinks, the real takeaway was more about the atmosphere and the sense of people discovering something together.

Engkanto Taps regularly hosts events like trivia nights, DJ sets, and other social gatherings that bring people together over drinks. If you’re lucky, it even runs a Beer + Chips promo, where you can enjoy unli full pints plus unli chips and salsa for just P888.

It’s moments like these that show how craft beer continues to stretch across the city. And with the new Engkanto Taps, there comes another place where creativity, discovery, and community come alive — one glass at a time. – Rappler.com